Lie Again! Chapter 106

<Chapter 106. Letters From Another Time (1)>

 

From: Joy McCoy <[email protected]>

To: Lee Jin 

September 24, 8:06 AM

 

Hey, Jin!

We’ve been texting and calling, but this is my first time emailing you.

Is this how you’re supposed to do it? Or should I have started with “Dearest” instead of “Hey”?

Let’s try again.

 

Dearest Jin,

 

It’s been almost a month since you left.

Which also means it’s been almost a month since school started, and I often find myself thinking you’re still here. One time during lunch, you didn’t show up no matter how long I waited, and I actually asked the others where Jin went.

The funny thing is that Dusty answered, “I don’t know, maybe she went to the bathroom?” Isn’t that hilarious?

 

Anyway, Homecoming season is starting soon over here. I just finished practice.

Did you hear? The football coach finally changed. I guess losing to Cottonwood last year was a huge deal.

The new coach is definitely more handsome than the old one. No beer belly and plenty of hair. He’s got that dignified macho-hottie style. At first, I liked just looking at him, but now when I see him, I want to smack the back of his head.

Because as soon as he arrived, he declared that this year’s goal is a 70% win rate. He said we’re never losing to Cottonwood again.

 

Why is that a problem, you ask? The football team’s practice hours have increased like crazy, those idiots who were moved by his speech are out there rolling in the dirt, and our own coach—feeling inspired by all that—has caught the fever too.

She keeps saying we can’t have mediocre cheerleading when they’re working that hard. A few days ago, I caught her looking up the Junior World Cheerleading Championships.

Can you believe this?! The football coach changes, and I can’t believe the end result is us suffering for it.

 

I’ve been rambling. That’s not what I meant to say. Ahem.

 

You have to understand. I’m being worked so hard that I can’t even prepare for the Homecoming party properly. Would you believe I haven’t even picked out a dress yet? These days, just thinking about school makes me grit my teeth.

Lately, I’ve been even more exhausted trying to stop Gwen from seriously quitting the team. She has zero loyalty.

Mandy heard about this and said, “I guess you guys have gotten close,” but she has no idea!

If she leaves, I’ll be the only flyer left. Why would I let her go just to make her life easier?

 

Jin, how is it in Korea? Is it autumn in Seoul now?

Did you do well on the class placement exam you were worried about? So, are you our junior or senior now? 

And your school uniform is so pretty! I want to wear one too. I’m jealous!

Earlier during practice, I was looking at the photo you sent while taking a water break, and the coach kept barking at me to get back to it. In that moment, I seriously considered just leaving this place and going to a boarding school with uniforms.

 

But can’t you change the color of the tie? Jin, I think a calm blue would suit you better than red. It would be even prettier if you added a ribbon or something!

If I were going to the same school as you, I’d be busy styling a new uniform every single day. Of course, since standing out too much on your own might get you some glares, you’d have to join me, Jin.

 

But isn’t this kind of exciting?

It’s not exactly analog, but it feels like an analog letter, and my heart is already fluttering thinking about what kind of reply I’ll get. I guess this is what a pen pal is! Congrats on becoming my glorious first pen pal friend, Jin.

Writing letters suits my personality better than I thought. I should use this more often instead of messenger apps. I’ll have to ask the counselor later if there’s a college where you can major in Letter Writing 101.

 

Ugh! I have so, so much more to say, but I see Peter pulling into the parking lot in the distance. Seriously, that guy has a knack for ruining the mood.

Let’s catch up on everything else when we meet the kids on Skype this weekend!

 

I miss you a lot.

With love, Joy.

 

P.S. It’s really you reading this email, right, Jin?

What if it’s not?

If this email flew to the wrong place by mistake, please send a cat emoji!

 

* * *

 

From: Lee Jin <[email protected]>

To: Joy McCoy 

September 23, 11:27 PM

 

Dearest Joy,

 

(=ↀωↀ=)

Meow.

 

* * *

 

From: Lee Jin [email protected]> 

To: Joy McCoy 

September 23, 11:30 PM

 

Just kidding.

The email reached me safely, so don’t worry.

I wondered what was up when you suddenly asked for my email address.

But why a cat emoji, of all things?

 

It’s autumn in Seoul now. It’s become a bit chilly if I don’t wear something over my clothes. When I get to school at dawn and accidentally brush against the metal chair legs while sitting down, I get goosebumps.

 

It must still be scorching hot in Florida, right? It’s funny how I used to fear the summer there, but now I fear the winter here.

By the way, the football coach changed? I liked the old coach.

Whenever he waved his arms above his head to say hello, he looked like a grizzly bear greeting you from afar. Of course, he did look at his phone quite a lot during practice. I wondered if that was okay, and I guess it wasn’t.

 

And this is just my opinion, but I think I know why your coach is acting like that. I still occasionally rewatch the cheerleading video from the Cottonwood game last year. Seeing you and Emily flying into the air at the same time is impressive every time I see it. So, I feel like I understand what’s in the coach’s heart.

 

Speaking of Homecoming, I really miss Crawford. The hallways and the auditorium must be a chaotic mess of decorations right now, right? What’s the theme this time? What was decided for the Homecoming Week spirit days?

 

If I had known I’d miss it this much, maybe I should have participated more actively last year. Talked more, taken more photos… well, no. I think I took more than enough photos.

 

That’s why these days, whenever I miss that place, I try to work even harder here. Fortunately, I’ve found friends to eat lunch with, I’m slowly getting closer to my classmates, and my studies are still going smoothly.

 

Ah! And from now on, you should call me “Senior.” I successfully skipped a grade (though it only means I’ll graduate six months before you guys).

The transfer exam results were good, so I’ve safely settled in as a sophomore—well, a Junior in your terms. If things keep going well, we might all become Freshmen at the same time. I’ve never been more grateful for being good at studying than I am right now.

 

I miss you, Joy.

If you’re too busy, why don’t you transfer here? We don’t have Homecoming or a cheer team, but we do have pretty uniforms. Though you can’t change the tie color.

 

Just kidding.

Actually, I might be half-serious.

 

From Jin, who misses her pen pal very much.

 

* * *

 

From: Evan Ruth <[email protected]>

To: Lee Jin 

October 17, 2:12 AM

 

Hey, Jin.

First, I have some joyful news to share.

The news is that I just squeezed 10 dollars out of Dustin.

 

The two of us made a bet on what Joy has been looking at so intently lately. Dustin said it was an essay or something study-related, and I told him if that were the case, then that wasn’t Joy, but something wearing Joy’s skin.

We had to determine a winner, but no matter how many times we asked Joy, she refused to tell us, so I just peeked. I should add that it was the easiest thing in the world. When she’s focused on her phone, all you have to do is look down from above.

 

And the result was—boom!

Of course it wasn’t studying. She was secretly exchanging emails with you.

 

I guess he still doesn’t know Joy that well. At times like this, I wonder if she’s really the girl he likes. Or maybe, because he likes her, he’s romanticizing her into someone who would actually study.

 

Anyway. Thus, I have delivered the pleasant news that 10 dollars has entered my hands. 

 

At this point, Jin, you’re probably wondering why I’m bothering to send this via email.

 

I just did it because it looked fun.

 

To think that neither of you mentioned a single letter of the word “Email” in the group chat while secretly communicating behind our backs. I’m very disappointed.

As punishment, you’ll have to be pen pals with me too. Lately, Joy is busy following the football team around for performances, and Amanda’s internship at that cancer research lab or whatever she was doing over the break isn’t over yet. They don’t even pay her, yet they’re still working her to the bone. I think I might need to report them for child labor.

 

So, as you can see, Dustin and I are currently in a lonely state, continuing to make useless bets. Can you understand how we felt when we discovered your email address just as we were about to wither away from boredom?

If you don’t understand, imagine the image of a primitive man discovering fire for the first time. Take away some of their hair and put some pants on them, and that’s pretty much us.

 

So, you’ll have to give me a detailed account of your life in Korea too. Just like you did for Joy. I’ll wrap it up here for today since you’re probably busy.

 

I’ll email you again when Mrs. Haide’s class becomes unbearable.

 

Wait a sec. Dustin says he wants to say something too.

Do you know what the Secret Janitor’s mission is? 

 

. 

 

. 

 

Mission Clear.

 

It’s me again.

Is it kind of awkward between you two?